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B. C. HICKS. GATTLBGUARD POR DooRs 0F strom; GARS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOI'IN CIIAPIN HICKS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE HICKS STOCK CAR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLI- NCIS.

CATTLE-GUARD FOR DOORS OF STOCK-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,948, dated June 24, 1890.

Appiano filed May 2o, 1889.

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, BOHN GHAPIN Hicks, a citizen of the United States, residing in Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door Guards for Stock-Cars, of which the following is a specifcation.

This invention relates to double-deck stockcars, such as are used for the transportation of cattle, horses, sheep, and hogs. When such cars are used for the transportation of small animals like sheep and hogs, they are fitted with a removable deck which divides the car horizontally into two iioors or decks, so that double-the number of small animals can be carried than would otherwise be the case, and when large animals like cattle and horses are transported the double deck is removed. Such stock-cars are ordinarily constructed with a doorway on the center of each side for the passage of the animals. If the doors are accidentally left open, there is danger of the cattle escaping and being injured, so that a doorway-guard is usually employed to bar the passage into the car at about the vertical center thereof; also, when the double deck is employed there is a gap left between the edges of the deck and the door, into which the sheep or hogs on the deck are liable to step, and so become injured.

Now the object of the present invention is to provide means for mounting and supporting a doorway-guard to bar the passage when the car is occupied by large animals, and for supporting a platform to bridge the gap between the deck and door when the car is iitted as a double-deck car. In accordance with the invention the same panel serves as the doorway-guard in the one instance and as the bridge in the other.

The invention consists in the means employed for supporting the guard in the two positions in which it is used. This improved means consists in supporting-sockets which are secured on opposite sides of the doorway near the vertical center thereof, each socket being formed with a vertical channel closed at the bottom, which maintains the guard in a vertical position when it is used to bar the Serial No. 311,424. (No model.)

doorway, and with a horizontal channel also closed along its bottom, which maintains the guard at the proper height and in a horizontal position to bridge the gap between the deck and the door.

A proper and convenient construction of the improved supportingsockets embodying the principles of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a sectional side elevation of a portion of one side of a stock-car, including one of the doorway-openings provided With the present improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view in section on the line @c of Fig. l with the guard removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line at zu' of Fig. l, showing the guard arranged to be used in connection with a double-deck stock-car; and Fig. fi is a simi lar view showing the guard arranged for use in connection with an lordinary stock-car. Fig. 5 isa detached enlarged perspective view of one of the improved sockets.

A is the iioor-frame; A2, the side `frames or boarding; A3, the door-posts or stanchions; A, the roof; A5, one of the doorway-openings, and A6 one of the sliding doors for covering the openings.

Inserted into the inner faces of the doorposts A3, on opposite sides of the doorway, are metal sockets B, having a horizontal channel c and a vertical intersecting channel a2. The two sockets on the two door-posts are at equal distances above the floor A with their horizontal channels a a in the same horizontal plane with the double deck D, when the sockets are employed on double-deck cars. The sockets B are adapted to receive and support the ends of the guard E, either in the vertical channels u?, as in Figs. l and fi, or in the horizontal channels a', as in Fig. 3. Above one of the vertical channels a2 an inclined groove asis formed in the bodyY of the post A3, so that when the guardE is to beinserted into the upright channels one end is placed in one of the sockets a2, resting on its closed bottom, and the other end is dropped down through the groove a3 into the opposite socket a2 until it rests on the closed bottom thereof. When the guard is to be inserted into the horizontal channels, it is s0 inserted roo from outside the car before the door AG is closed, the latter thereafter holding it from moving outward, While the closed ends a4 of the channels a prevent its removal inward.

The guard in its horizontal position rests on the closed supporting-bottom of th'e channels 01,. When the guard E is employed in an upright position, as in Figs. l and 4, it can only be removed by lifting it upward at one end-a movement which would not be liable to occur when in use. A chain F connects the guard E at one end to the car-frame, the chain being long enough to permit the free movement of the guard, but effectually preventing its removal from the car.

By this simple device an effectual guard is provided to prevent cattle or horses from escaping when the doors A6 are opened, and which also prevents the animals coming in Contact with the doors and forcing them from their bearings. The guardE in this connec- -tion serves a double purpose, preventing the cattle escaping when the doors are open and also serving as a guard to the doors when they are closed. Then when used in connection with double-deck cars it is placed in its iiatwise position, as inFig. 8, and thus forms a support for the outer edges of the double deck and also bridges the gap which would otherwise occur in the doorway-openings between the deck D and the doors A6. The sockets B are shown embedded in the posts A3, their outer faces flush therewith, which is the preferable method; but they might be secured to the inn er surfaces of the posts, if preferred.

I claim as my inventionl. A socket for the doors of stoclccars for the purpose of holding a guard in either a horizontal or a vertical position, said socket having a vertical retaining-channel with a guard-supporting bottom and a horizontal retaining-channel with a guard-supporting bottom, substantially as set forth.

2. A socket for the doors of stock-cars for vthe purpose of holding a guard in eithera horizontal or a vertical position, said socket having two intersecting channels at right angles to each other, each of said channels having a guard-supporting bottom, substantially as set forth.

3. A socket for the doors of stock-cars for the purpose of holding a guard in either a horizontal or a vertical position, said socket having two intersecting channels at right angles to each other, one being vertical and the other horizontal, each of said "channels having a guard-supporting bottom, the vertical channel having an open top and the horizontal channel having its outer end open,

BOHN CI-IAPIN HICKS. Witnesses:

C. N. WooDWARD, H. S. WEBSTER. 

